LAUGHLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Texas -- Air Force history is cold – literally.
When things happen in the Air Force, they need to be formally recorded and documented, then transcribed on ever-lasting discs, then stored in a secured freezer in a museum for preservation.
Without historians like William McEvoy, 47th Flying Training Wing historian, to take the time to formally document happenings and go through the process of securing them, officially nothing takes place in the business of fly, fight, win.
“It’s like a recorder,” McEvoy said. “If you don’t press the button to record, sure, things happen while the recording is off. But in an official capacity, everything done while off the record is lost.”
As a passionate practitioner, McEvoy takes pride in a craft that is rooted all the way back to his childhood. His passion for military history has taken him to bases all over the world, learning each step of the way, ultimately giving him the tools he needs to write the history of Laughlin Air Force Base.
“I never had a chance to serve in the military,” he said. “So this is sort of my way of giving back.”